Sanjani Samarakodi said her husband Premanath Tungasiri had been arrested in May for worshiping a Buddha Statue. “We heard about my husband’s arrest from a friend in Saudi Arabia”.

She had urged President Mahinda Rajapaksa to intervene in the matter and get her husband released.

The Sinhala Ravaya, an organization led by former MP Akmiwana Dayaratana Thera supported by UNP MP Ranjan Ramanayake who organized the protest insisted that the victim had been arrested for worshiping a Buddha statue though it was said he had sold a religious object to a woman. Ven. Dayaratana Thera with Mr. Ramanayake were allowed to meet the embassy officials.

The officials had told the protesters that the arrest had nothing to do with religion. The embassy officials have also informed the protesters that the Sri Lankan government should make an appeal to the Saudi Supreme Court in order to get the victim released.

Source: Daily Mirror - Sri Lanka